March 2014 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar

Weekends — Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve. Docent-led walks are scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. Day use fee is $4.32 per person, age 16 and older. Groups of 10 or more should schedule a separate tour. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region4/elkhorn.html.

Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours by Reservation at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). A wildlife naturalist will lead groups, from a school or an organization, through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. Tours can include requested information along a half-mile, walking route. The minimum group size is 18 people. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

Weekends —North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in Butte County (95965). Free naturalist-led wildflower tours are scheduled every Saturday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. during March and April. The tour features a hike of approximately two to two and a half miles over uneven terrain. To register and for more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/wildflowertours/.

1 — Recreational Groundfish Season Opens For All Boat-based Anglers in the Southern Groundfish Management Area (Point Conception, Santa Barbara County to the California/Mexico Border). For more information, please visit the Groundfish Central webpage at: www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/groundfishcentral.

5-9 — Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Show, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach (90802). People can visit CDFW displays where staff will answer questions and license sales staff will have all licenses, tags and report cards available for sale. The new 2014 CDFW Warden Stamp will be available for purchase ($5) to help support CDFW enforcement and fund the purchase of equipment. The enforcement display trailer will feature a free enclosed laser shot game and youths will have a chance to catch a fish from the CDFW-stocked fishing pond. CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham and staff will participate in a public forum March 8 to answer questions and talk about important issues regarding California’s fish and wildlife resources. The fee is $15 for adults. Youths 15 years and younger as well as active military are admitted free. For more information, please visit www.fredhall.com/pages/long_beach/longbeach.php.

26 — CDFW Conservation and Mitigation Bank Program Public Stakeholders Meeting for Bank Sponsors, 10 to 11:30 a.m., at the Natural Resources Building, First Floor Auditorium, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento (95814). The public meeting will introduce the “Draft Banking Program Guidelines.” For more information, please call Beatriz (Betty) Rambarran at (916) 651-1279.

27-30 — Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Show, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar (92014). People can visit CDFW displays where staff will answer questions and license sales staff will have all licenses, tags and report cards available for sale. The new 2014 CDFW Warden Stamp will be available for purchase ($5) to help support CDFW enforcement and fund the purchase of equipment. The enforcement display trailer will feature a free enclosed laser shot game and youths will have a chance to catch a fish from the CDFW-stocked fishing pond. CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham and staff will participate in a public forum March 29 to answer questions and talk about important issues regarding California’s fish and wildlife resources. The fee is $15 for adults. Youths 15 years and younger as well as active military are admitted free. For more information, please visit www.fredhall.com/pages/san_diego/sdticketInfo.php.

29 — Spring Wild Turkey General Season Opens and Extends Through May 4. For more information about turkey hunting regulations, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ or contact Scott Gardner at (916) 801-6257. For information about special turkey hunting opportunities, please visit https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/DFGSpecialHunts/ or contact Linda Sandoval at (916) 445-3452.